You know there is this theory about wanting something badly enough and the world conspiring to make it happen. I don’t know about that but you won’t believe the number of things that happened for this dates sakkara pongal to be made. Firstly, I watched a Netflix documentary about harmful effects of sugar. My advice – don’t watch it if you do not have the gumption to make a lifestyle change. So I decided to atleast start somewhere, start small in cutting down sugar.
Secondly, the husband made a trip to the Middle East and got back with a huge stock of dates. Thirdly and the most funnily, I made this stupid mistake of buying a five kilo pack of brown rice instead of white. So now my life’s mission is to make the family eat the brown rice that no one wants to eat. So I devised this dates sakkara pongal in which I substituted dates for some jaggery and replaced the white rice with brown rice. The best part? The family doesn’t know and have asked for it to be made again. For once, I guess I will comply.
For other similar recipes, check out Bisibele Bhath Millets Khichadi and Dal Khichadi
Serves 4
WHAT WE NEED
1 cup Brown rice
1/4 cup Split skinless moong dal
3/4 cup Jaggery
8-10 Seedless dates
3-4 tsp Ghee / clarified butter
1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
8-10 Cashews, broken into bite sized pieces
8-10 Raisins
Water
WHAT TO DO
- Cook rice and dal together with 3 cups water in a pressure cooker for 3 whistles
- Once the pressure is released, mash the rice and dal and set aside
- In a pan, heat 3/4 cup of water
- Once the water is hot, chop the dates and add it to the pan
- Allow the dates to soften, around 5 minutes on medium heat
- Once the dates soften, add the jaggery and mix well
- Let the jaggery melt and come to a consistency when it can hold shape if dropped in water
- Add the cardamom powder, mashed rice and dal
- Mix well and let it cook for 4-5 minutes on low heat
- In a small pan, heat 2 tsp ghee
- Add the chopped cashews and let it turn golden brown
- Add the raisins and turn off the heat
- Pour the ghee along with the cashews and raisins on to the dates sakkara pongal
- If it is sticky add another 1 tsp ghee
- Serve warm or chilled
- Enjoy!
This is my post for the Biryani / Pulao / Khichadi festival for the alphabet ‘D’
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM#99
Bread Therapy 
The traditional pongal gets a healthy touch. I bet it tasted wonderful even with the changes.
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Wow pongal with dates, sounds interesting. Must have tasted delicious.
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he he agree about the Netflix series. Cutting down on sugar is the most difficult past. Sighhh. I started trying coconut sugar, let’s see. Between this is a great sakkarai pongal recipe with dates and brown rice. Glad your family liked it.
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Well we all know that we should stop sugar – well I have tried doing it a couple of times and at lengths ! Thankfully I succeed , but I have to admit it is very tough and even though dates is natural sugar I ban that too 😒.
Last night I was watching Dakshin Dairies and they had this jaggery Pongal and I was drooling over it – today I open my eyes to yet another beautifully plated dates based Pongal – simply wow ! So sinful !
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hahaha…how funny ways things turn out right. This sakkarai pongal surely looks so inviting!
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The sakkara pongal looks delicious and inviting! I have bookmarked this for next time! Thank you for sharing!
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Looks very inviting. How much jugaad we need to do for the family to accept a healthy life style, right?
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Avoiding sugar can be the best lifestyle change. The sakkarai pongal looks so delicious and the brown rice and dates together would make it so flavourful.
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Wow So innovative… Never thought we caouls inculde a sweet dish in the Bm.. Yummy!!
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The Netflix thing sure shook me up too ! I have started using brown rice from adai to sakkarai pongal to pulao .. this one with dates as a sweetener is surely a winner and best of luck to your life’s mission 😜😂😂😂
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Great share of healthy version of sakkarai pongal with brown rice and date sugar.. looks creamy and rich.
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Some times some mistakes gives an opportunity to dish you out something so yummy. Honestly the Dates Sakkara Pongal looks so tempting. I was like this is the next dessert to try. Yum.
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It’s good that you are making efforts to get the family eat healthy and nutritious. I try many times but then I think have to push myself an extra mile to start doing it regularly. very nice version of the traditional Pongal with healthy ingredients.
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What is your 1 cup measurement? is it 200g?
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Yes…200gms. Hope you enjoy making Sakkara pongal
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